Miter-box



(No Model.)

A. E. MGMILLAN.

MITER BOX.

N0. 43 134. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

IrufT: Ffiu'p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANGUS E. MOMILLAN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

MlTER-BOX.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,134, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed February 19, 1890. Serial No. 341,050. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANGUS E. MOMILLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Miter-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

My invention relates to that class of miterboxes having a swinging arm provided with vertical saw-guides, by means of which moldings or similar work may be cut at any required angle.

The object of my invention is to provide a miter-box in which, besides the ordinary adjnstability of the saw guides, adjustable press-blocks sliding along the saw-guides and adapted to be fixed at any desired point are used as a gage to keep the saw in proper position while sawing the miter-kerf, and also to provide a bottom gage or stop which will prevent the workman from sawing down far enough to encounter the frame or base upon which the board rests, the whole being adapted especially for sawing miters with an ordinary hand-saw. I accomplish this object by using the structure described in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in whioh- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a miter box, showing my improvements thereon; and Fig. 2,a detail view, also in perspective, of my invention.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in both views.

A represents the base of the box. This base is provided with a central opening B, and its front edge is rabbeted and out so as to form an are C. From the rear edge of A and at a right angle thereto rise boards D D, against which the pieces that are to be out are brought to bear, and to its front edge are attached buttons E E, adapted to keep the work in a true position while being sawed.

The above-enumerated parts constitute the receiving-trough or box proper.

To the under side of the base and across the central opening B, I secure a swinging H II and H H are small posts set up on each end of F in parallel planes perpendicular to and at right angles with the horizontal plane of the swinging arm. The posts H H are preferably placed within the opening B next to the are C, and the posts H H at the extreme rear end of the arm F back of the box. They thus alford suflicient room for the reception of the work to be laid on the base A, and present between them a long narrow space, within which a saw may be inserted and kept in the exact vertical plane of the arm F.

I I are double barrel-shaped press blocks or slides slipped over the posts H H and set at any suitable height thereupon by means of set-screws J J. Kerfs are made in the lower end of these slides to serve as a guide for the saw when the miter-box is in use; but their upper end is left entire, so as to render them more compact, besides acting as a brace for the tops of the posts.

The above elements are enough to constitute a very useful and accurate miter-box; but to render my device still more convenient, I add a small roller K, designed to prevent the point of the saw from running into the box after themoldings or other pieces have been out. This roller may be made of rawhide, wood, or some such soft inexpensive substance andjournaled between the posts H II at their lower end above the swinging arm F. It is apparent from this construction that it is impossible to saw into the box, as the roller will always be in the way.

The operation is as follows: The moldings or pieces to be matched are laid flat lengthwise of the base A and fixed in position by means of the boards D D, the buttons E E, and additional wooden strips or blocks, if need be. The arm F is swung around and the exact angle at which the work has to be cut sighted through the kerfs in the slides I The set-screw G is then applied, and the arm F and saw-guides are thus brought and kept on the very line wanted. I are next raised and secured by their setscrews K K on the posts H H ata sufficient height to allow for the insertion of an ordinary hand-saw into the guides over the pieces to be sawed. The work may now be proceeded with, and the operator may feel sure that the out he is making will answer all the requirements.

I am aware that pivoted arms swinging on an arc and secured by a set-screw have been used in miter-boxes prior to my invention; but the set-screw has been made to engage holes in the arc and the number of angles at which mitcrs may be cut thereby greatly re duced. I therefore greatly improve on the old system by furnishing means by which such joints are not limited to certain angles, but may be made to suit any design.

Adjustable guides have also been devised;

but so far as known to me none will admit of.

the use of the ordinary hand-saw.

Having fully described my invention, what The slides 1.

wardly froni opposite ends of the swinging arm, those at the forward end being located within the opening of the base-piece, and double-barreled adjustable slides upon said guide-posts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANGUS E. In presence of- A. H. STE MARIE, F. N. BIGELOVV.

MCMILLAN. 

